Independent
Calgary-born Vancouver-based songwriter Kent McAlister’s new album The Way It Rolls is a quantum leap ahead of his 2005 debut Memory Replacer . While that first album was a sweet slice of smoky country McAlister and his band The Iron Choir have locked into a spicy play-it-again alchemy on their new album.
Featuring just nine songs McAlister wisely chose to go for quality over quantity. And what quality it is. While his trademark rootsy purée is still boldly in evidence The Way It Rolls takes adventurous chances with time changes breaks and a fetching mariachi feel that wanders in and out of the melodies. McAlister’s formal studies in jazz are also put to good use in a manner that trims rather than tramples the feel.
Topping divine slices of pedal steel and trumpet are McAlister’s frictionless vocals snuggling up to music that wears its pop country and jazz influences sewn tastefully into the seams just out of sight but not quite out of ear. And while it’s always risky to cover a songwriter like Leonard Cohen the band’s wistful breezy treatment of “That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” soars.
